QUENTIN PAQUIGNON QUARTET "Live in Shanghai" Project

While the Shanghainese jazz scene is expanding rapidly in the 2000’s, QUENTIN PAQUIGNON, LEONARDO SUSI, TINHO PEREIRA and GIOVANI CHATON decide to settle down in the Chinese megalopolis.

Sharing their love for fast rhythms, sunny melodies, and elaborate improvisations, the four musicians, eager of musical discoveries, share rapidly the JZ Club and House of Blues and Jazz stages.

Quentin Paquignon’s musicality meets Tinho Pereira’s on the Westin Bund Center stage, where they will play for several months with the French singer Jessica Maurer. Soon the trio invites Leonardo Susi to join them to create the Universal Quartet and perform with the band on the jazz stages of Shanghai, Hangzhou Music Festival, Shanghai Oriental Center, MGM Grand Macau, while GIOVANI CHATON performs on his side with Mauritius bands as Noukila, Johnny Joseph Band.

Quickly, PAQUIGNON, PEREIRA and SUSI play regularly at the CJW Shanghai with the Brazilian piano player Luiz Fernando Vital. When Vital chooses to go back to his country, the trio asks naturally GIOVANI CHATON to join the band, the QUENTIN PAQUIGNON QUARTET is born.

Coloring the jazz standards with Brazilian and Mauritius musical pigments, the QUENTIN PAQUIGNON QUARTET develops quickly a mixed jazz repertoire by arranging compositions of Stefano Di Battista, Yusef Lateef, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Michel Camilo, the Texier-Romano-Sclavis Trio, Hadouk Trio, Laco Tayfa.

Today, the originality and musical skills of the QUENTIN PAQUIGNON QUARTET cannot be questioned anymore for the cosmopolitan public of Shanghai.

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QUENTIN PAQUIGNON - saxophones - FRANCE.

Born in 1981, son of musician parents, Quentin Paquignon sax player and composer, starts music by playing violin at the age of 5. Three years later, Quentin discover the saxophone with his new teacher Didier Foucher, Sax Solo of the French Air Force Orchestra. Few years later, Quentin Paquignon joins the Music, Dance and Drama National School of Creteil, France, with saxophone master Georges Porte, Saxophone Solo of the Republicans Gards Orchestras.

Soon, Quentin Paquignon is rewarded by a First Prize of Saxophone and an Unanimous First Prize of Music Chamber from the Music, Dance and Drama National School of Creteil, France. First Prize of Saxophone on the musical contest of Picardie – France, and First Prize of Leopold Bellan Music Chamber Contest, Paris-France, Quentin Paquignon continues his musical journey joining, as saxophone solo,  different symphonic orchestras such as Orsay Symphonic Orchestra or Symphonic Orchestra of Massy Opera House, France.

At 20 years old, Quentin Paquignon shares is time teaching in music schools around Paris, playing as Sax Solo of the Firemen Orchestra of Paris, being tenor saxophone of numerous jazz big band : Big Band Connexion, Blue Big Band, Govix Big Band, or even playing on the Bouglione Circus stage with funambulists…

In 2001, the iconic singer Jeff Joseph invite him to join his band, The Gramacks New Generation to perform in New York City, Guadalupe Island and Dominica. After a master class with the improvisation master Louis Sclavis, Quentin Paquignon decides to flight toward new musical and human adventures, creating the band Goldfish who will perform in Shanghai, China.

Since 2005, Quentin Paquignon develops  his improvisation skills with Chinese and foreigners musicians living in Shanghai, like him. Quentin Paquignon’s inspirational musical versatility will bring him to play in many differents bands such asSwing Dynasty, Lions of Puxi, JZ All Stars Big Band, L.V Beats, Universal Quartet, or to be the favorite sax player of Chinese famous artists such as the Shanghainese pop singer Zhou BingQian,Beilei Be, Eric Lee… Paquignon plays on the most prestigious stages in China and Asia : JZ Club Shanghai, Cotton Club Shanghai, Wooden Box, CJW Shanghai, House of Blues and Jazz,  Brown Sugar Shanghai, Shanghai JZ Music Festival, Shanghai Oriental Center, Hangzhou Music Festival, Yugong Yishan Beijing, Sanya Music Festival, Mao Live House, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Culture Square, Shanghai Oriental Center, YuYinTang Shanghai, YugongYishan Beijing, French Pavillon of Shanghai Expo 2010, Shanghai Expo 2010 European Stage, in Hong Kong Theatre or MGM GRAND MACAU…

Engaged musician, Quentin Paquignon had been the co-organizer of the Together Day Shanghai, a charity concert to raise money for the victims of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake in China. The same year, Paquignon had the great privilege to share the House of Blues and Jazz stage with the Erik Truffaz Quartet.

From music festivals to jazz club stages or Chinese TV shows ( CCTV9, Dragon TV, Wenzhou TV…) Quentin Paquignon shares his passion of music with a Chinese and foreign public by telling musical stories, running the gamut of his artistic skills from joyous to poignant, exhilarating to contemplative.

Quentin Paquignon is  the creator and leader of 3 musical projects : the QUENTIN PAQUIGNON QUARTET, THE POLYMORPH EXTRA and the PARIS-BEIJING SAXOPHONES QUARTET.

TINHO PEREIRA - bass, double-bass - BRAZIL.

Brazilian musician (guitarist, bassist, singer and producer) Tinho Pereira was born in Araraquara, a city near São Paulo. Tinho Pereira started to play acoustic guitar when he was 6 years old.

At the age of 7, he began to study classic guitar at the VILLA LOBOS Conservatory of Music in his hometown. Five years later after graduating in Villa Lobos Conservatory, his thirst for music had yet to be quenched. He continued his studies at Dr. Carlos de Campos Conservatory in Tatui City specializing in Electric bass guitar.

At 12 years old, he was playing in bars, night clubs, ballrooms and traveling around not only Brazil but also other parts of South America. Always eager to learn more, he shared classes with masters like Walter Falcoski, Henrique Pinto and Ana Maria Bedaque (Classic Guitar) and Mario Campos (Electric bass, arrangements and harmony).

In Brazil, he worked in studios recording, producing and playing in live concerts with different artists and bands.

In 2000, Tinho Pereira performed for the first time in Europe accompanying the famous Brazilian Accordionist Oswaldinho do Acordeon at the Fisiarmonic Festival in Reggio Emilia City, Italy.

Now based in Shanghai, his music and vocals can be enjoyed at most Jazz Festivals (in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Hangzhou) as well as Jazz clubs.

Hand Made is the 1st solo album by Tinho Pereira.

LEONARDO SUSI - drums and percussions - BRAZIL.

Brazilian Drummer and percussionist, Leonardo Susi was born in 1975 in a small city near Sao Paulo called Brotas. Leonardo Starts his study in 1991 with a particular teacher called Rogero Chiarinelli and therefore after, started a Conservatory of Music in Tatui, SP-Brazil. Took lessons from greats names of Brazilian music as: Maestro Nelson Ayres, Hermeto Pascoal, Marcio Bahia, Guello, Maestro Paulo Braga and Maestro Cesar Camargo Mariano. Also had lessons withSimon Philips drummer of Toto. Back in Brazil, gave class for 280 children in a music public school and worked in music clubs with different artists and bands.

Based in Shanghai since 2003, has been playing in a very important Jazz Festivals and Jazz clubs as Percussionist and Drummer of Alec Haavik Band as known as, The Friction Five, Nanjing International Jazz Festival as a member of the Australian trumpet player Toby Mak, Hangzhou Jazz Festival with Universal Quartet, Hong Kong International Jazz Festival with Joao Mascarenhas Trio  and Shanghai JZ Music Festival 2010 playing with the French American Singer China Moses and Chinese pop Singer Shunza. Also played with Shanghai Jazz Big Band as a percussionist and drummer, playing a live concert for the Shanghai TV at Shanghai Concert Hall, it was a tribute to the 150th anniversary of Mozart. Recorded and produced the first Latin CD in China called On the Road by the Colombian saxophone player Alvaro Cardenas. Also composed a song called Brotas & Cartagena. Played with great Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil. Enjoy the stage with the great singer Dee Dee Bridgewater. Recorded a beautiful Bossa Nova album called “When Bossa Nova meets Erhu” by the great erhu player Erick Lee. Played a live concert broadcasting (TV, radio) by Shanghai Media Group with Ma Xiaohui one of the best Erhu (chinese violin) Player in the word.

Works as freelancer and have regulars gigs in Shanghai with Alec Haavik and the Friction Five, give percussion and drum class at JZ School, play with own trio called SUPERLOUKOS composed byNicholas Boloukos on Piano and Tinho Pereira on Bass and play with With Universal Quartet which is a mix of Brazilian music, Jazz, French music and Rock.

In Beijing play at CJW Beijing and in Hong Kong with Joao Mascarenhas Trio, which play authentic Brazilian music.

Recently gave workshops for two International Schools in Beijing teaching the principals of blues, jazz and latin music for drums set and talking about his life and career as a musician.

Well-known for the versatility and creativity as drummer and percussionist, Leonardo Susi work with musicians from all world, playing various styles and genres.

GIOVANI CHATON - keys and piano - MAURITIUS ISLAND.

Born in 1978 on the Island of Mauritius. Giovani Chaton was surrounded by music since his early years. He start playing and performing piano at home for his friends and family. His music skills grew rapidly and soon Giovani perform for the church choir of his city.

At 20 years old, Giovani met his former music teacher. His love and passion for music grow stronger after this encounter. Noticed by many local talents,Giovani’s reputation grow fast, and soon Giovani works in the most prestigious hotels in Mauritius Island before sharing his passion and musical talents to a new public in La Reunion Island and Madagascar.

Invited to join a Mauritius band in China, Giovani settle his life in Shanghai 6 years ago. Since this time, he explore, through different bands, all kind of musical styles and become rapidly the favorite piano player of numerous artists around Asia such as the actress and singer Gwyneth Paltrow, Burhan Ocal, Chieli  Minucci / Sfx, Johnny Joseph Band, Noukila, Lions of Puxi, Tinho Pereira Band, playing on the most prestigious stages as JZ Club Shanghai, Xanadu, Shanghai Expo 2010, Shanghai JZ Music Festival, Hangzhou Music Festival…